State Semifinals
All games are played at Legends Way Fields in Clermont. Tickets are $9 in advance and $12 the day of the game. Parking is $10 for cars and $25 for buses
Class 6A
Land O’ Lakes (19-11) vs. Pace (27-1), 11 a.m., today
How they got here: Land O’ Lakes d. Punta Gorda Charlotte 10-7 (eight innings), d. Mitchell 4-1, d. Bloomingdale 3-0 (10 innings). Pace d. Niceville 11-0, d. Oviedo 11-1, d. Hagerty 10-1.
Stat Leaders
Category | Land O’ Lakes | Pace |
Batting average | Makenna Bellaire, .409 | Shelby McKenzie, .562 |
Home runs | Two tied with three | Shelby McKenzie, 12 |
RBIs | Three tied with 17 | Shelby McKenzie, 39 |
ERA | Aliana Mercado, 1.96 | Mallory Baker, 0.13 |
Strikeouts | Aliana Mercado, 160 | Jayden Heavener, 269 |
Outlook
Land O’ Lakes is in the state semifinals for the second time in the past three seasons. After going through a 3-7 slump earlier this season, the Gators bounced back to win seven of their last nine games. They also know to play in marathon contests. Three of their last four games have gone to extra innings. Land O’ Lakes prevailed in two of them, including a victory over Bloomingdale in the region final that went 10 innings. To make their second championship game appearance in the past three seasons, the Gators will have to get past a worthy opponent. Pace is ranked first in the class and state and third nationally by MaxPreps. In the playoffs, the Patriots have been on a tear, winning their three games by a combined 32-2.